As of January 6, you no longer need a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid antigen test (RAT)

This section will be updated soon

Please follow the direction of Queensland Health HERE

Updates 3 January 2022

Confirmed cases of COVID-19:

• must isolate for seven days from the date they took the test that returned a positive result
• can leave isolation on day 7 if they have not had symptoms for the last 48 hours (or if the the only remaining symptom is a very mild dry cough which is persistent but not getting worse).

Overview

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you must immediately isolate for 7 days (or as otherwise directed) at your private home, accommodation (for example, where you are staying for a holiday), other suitable premises, or an address given to you by an emergency officer. You can leave isolation on day 7 if you haven’t had symptoms for the last 48 hours (or if the the only remaining symptom is a very mild dry cough which is persistent but not getting worse).

Isolation requirements

If you are diagnosed outside your home (or the place where you are currently staying in Queensland), you must travel directly to the premises you will be isolating at by private transport, ambulance or government arranged transport. The place you will isolate must be within 2 hours driving distance of the location you were notified of being positive for COVID-19.

Private transport means either:

• a private vehicle – a diagnosed person may drive themselves or be driven by a close contact; or
• if you are within 5km of where you will isolate and wear a face mask, you can travel directly there on foot or by privately owned bicycle, scooter, or other personal mobility device (travel is not permitted on any personal mobility devices hired through a shared-fleet scheme such as e-scooter or e-bike sharing schemes, council bike docking schemes).

Inform your close contacts

You must inform everyone in your household that you are a confirmed case of COVID-19. A household member is considered to be a close contact if they have spent more than 4 hours with you in a house, accommodation or care facility setting during their infectious period. There are specific quarantine and testing requirements for close contacts.

Stay home (or in your place of accommodation)

You’re not allowed to let anyone else into your home (or wherever you are isolating), apart from:

• a person who usually lives there, or who is isolating or quarantining there
• a person who is entering to provide emergency, medical, or other essential care
• if a direction is given by an emergency officer

During your period of isolation, you must not leave where you are isolating, except to travel by private vehicle, ambulance, or government arranged transport to:

• seek medical treatment at a hospital (such as a person leaving isolation to go to a hospital in an ambulance)
• avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm, including: escaping a risk of harm related to sexual or domestic and family violence; or accessing support from a domestic and family violence support service.
• In an emergency
• If directed by an emergency officer

If you are leaving quarantine for these very limited reasons, you must wear a mask (unless not practical because of an emergency situation or risk of harm) and follow any infection control measures as directed

Difference between isolation and quarantine

While both will limit your movements, quarantine is what we ask well people to do in case they’re carrying the virus. People who are actually sick with COVID-19 will be asked to isolate – and depending on how unwell they are, this may be done at home or in a healthcare facility.

Isolation means you need to stay away from others while you get better, so you don’t give the virus to anyone else. Read more about how to isolate.

Release from isolation

You can end your isolation if any of the following takes place:

• 7 days have passed since your diagnosis and:
  • you have not had COVID-19 symptoms for the last 48 hours (or the only your only remaining symptom is a very mild dry cough which is persistent but not getting worse)
  • you have not received a further direction to isolate under the Public Health Act 2005
• your positive result is found to be caused by a long-standing infection, and you are no longer infectious
• a medical practitioner working within a COVID-19 healthcare framework approved by Queensland Health determines you meet the requirements for release from isolation, and authorises your release
• a registered nurse or a medical practitioner from a treating Hospital and Health Service certifies that you meet release from isolation criteria.

After completing your isolation period

After completing your isolation period you must:

• follow Queensland’s mandatory face mask requirements
• monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you start to develop symptoms, get a PCR test and quarantine while you wait for the result.

Contact tracing

If requested by a public health officer, you must provide:

• the address you are isolating at
• a contact telephone number, email address and your date of birth
• if a parent, guardian or responsible adult of a minor diagnosed with COVID-19, provide the minor’s name and date of birth
• the contact details, including at least a name and telephone number, of any other people who are residing in, or have recently resided in, the premises

any other information or documents required by a public health officer.

As of 1am AEST Sunday 2 January 2022, Face masks must be worn indoors everywhere in Queensland, except in your own home or accommodation, and where it is unsafe, such as while doing strenuous exercise.

This includes:

• All indoor workplaces
• Public transport and rideshare
• Supermarkets and retail shops
• Hospitality venues including pubs, clubs and cafes
• Cinemas and theatres
• Indoor stadium, sports arena or sports centre
• Gyms and sport activities
• Vulnerable settings like hospitals and aged care
• Schools, childcare and other education facilities
• Airports and on planes

Exceptions from wearing face masks

There are some exceptions to wearing a face mask, including:

• children under 12
• travelling in a private vehicle, either alone or with only members of the person’s household
• a person eating, drinking or taking medicine
• where visibility of the mouth is essential
• where a mask needs to be removed to clearly communicate
• a person with a particular medical condition or disability
• performing work where clear visibility of the mouth is required, e.g. a speech therapist in a hospital or healthcare setting.
• a resident of a residential aged care facility or a shared disability accommodation service (This is subject to any policies or requirements of a facility or service)
• a prisoner in a corrective services facility or a detainee in a detention centre (This is subject to any policies or requirements of that facility or centre)
• a person undergoing medical treatment
• if a person is asked to remove a face mask for identity purposes
• if wearing a mask creates a risk to a person’s health and safety
• in an emergency or when required by law
• in any circumstances when it’s not safe to wear a mask
• if you are an air crew member or airport worker who is not interacting directly with passengers.

A person who removes their face mask under an exemption must resume wearing a face mask as soon as practical. For example, as soon as they finish eating, broadcasting or receiving medical care.

From 31 December 2021, Queensland Health will only notify of major outbreak venues or super-spreader events in Queensland.

There are no major outbreak venues or super-spreader events reported in Queensland.

Queensland Health are no longer routinely listing exposure sites in Queensland since transmission of COVID-19 is now widespread throughout metropolitan, regional and remote Queensland.

You need to consider any movement through the Queensland community as a risk for COVID-19 infection. So make sure to maintain social distancing, perform regular hand hygiene, monitor for symptoms, and get tested if you develop any symptoms

Updates for 24 December 2021

On 24 December 2021, the public health and social measures were updated to clarify:

• requirements for convention and entertainment centres, stadiums, and private hire of venues for other religious and civil services
• the exception from vaccination requirements for official duties and emergencies.

Overview

On 17 December 2021, restrictions on businesses were eased

However, there are restrictions on people who are not fully vaccinated.

When border restrictions were eased, COVID-19 began to circulate in our community. To ensure we don’t overwhelm our hospital system when we have outbreaks, some restrictions on unvaccinated people are necessary.

Eased restrictions for businesses

From 17 December 2021, there are no capacity restrictions on businesses that are only permitted to allow fully vaccinated people to attend, including:

• hospitality venues such as pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets
• indoor entertainment venues such as nightclubs, live music venues, karaoke bars, concerts, theatres or cinemas, casinos
• outdoor entertainment activities such as sporting stadiums or theme parks
• festivals – either indoor or outdoor – such as musical festivals, folk festivals or arts festivals
• activities – either indoor or outdoor – such as convention and entertainment centres and showgrounds
• Queensland Government owned galleries, museums or libraries

Venues used for private hire have no capacity limit if people attending are fully vaccinated. However, if there is a person attending who is not fully vaccinated, COVID-19 density restrictions apply. This means a maximum of 20 people or 1 per 4 square meters, whichever is less.

Collection of contact information by business operators

A business operator must collect contact information, proof of vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication from all staff, guests and patrons when entering an establishment by using the Check In Qld app.

If a business operator cannot use the Check In Qld app, they must use alternative measures to record the contact information details.

Community responsibilities

A person must give their contact information, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication by using the Check In Qld app or another measure of record keeping before entering a business establishment.

A person may give these entry requirements on behalf of another person who:

• is under the age of 16 years
• has a disability
• speaks a language other than English and is unable to understand the Check In Qld app.

A person is not required to give their contact information, proof of vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication if they are:

• under the age of 16 years
• in primary or secondary school and is part of a group attending an activity organised by a school, sporting team or community group
• exercising law enforcement
• at risk of safety.

Restrictions for unvaccinated people

From 17 December 2021, unvaccinated people are not permitted to:

• visit vulnerable settings, including hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation services, and prisons. This does not apply to residents and patients of these facilities, and there will be some exceptions for medical treatment, end-of-life visits, childbirth and emergency situations
• attend hospitality venues such as hotels, pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants or cafes
• attend indoor entertainment venues such as nightclubs, live music venues, karaoke bars, concerts, theatres or cinemas
• attend outdoor entertainment activities such as sporting stadiums, theme parks or tourism experience like reef excursions
• attend festivals – either indoor or outdoor – such as musical festivals, folk festivals or arts festivals
• attend Queensland Government owned galleries, museums or libraries.

If anyone attending a wedding is unvaccinated, it is restricted to a maximum of 20 people.

Funerals will not be limited to only vaccinated people. This is because funeral sometimes occur at short notice and often under difficult circumstances making it hard to ensure all attendees are vaccinated. However, funerals will still be required to comply with occupant density limits and caps on attendees to minimise the risk of transmission.

These restrictions target non-essential leisure activities which are not essential for people to meet their basic needs, but present a considerable risk to contributing to an outbreak in our community when our borders reopen.

Essential services and activities

Both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people will be able to access essential services and activities.

This means unvaccinated people will still be able to go to grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, news agents and clothing stores, and participate in activities like going to the gym for exercise.

Capacity restrictions may still be in place at these types of businesses.

People will still need to check-in to venues. This is important to support contact tracing if there is a case at a venue. Vaccinated people can still carry the virus, although the risk is reduced.

Fully vaccinated

Fully vaccinated means a person has had the required two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by 16 December 2021. It does not include a booster shot or a two-week wait after the second dose.

If you are already required to be vaccinated by an earlier date under another public health direction or the Health Employment Directive, you must be vaccinated by the earlier date.

Proof of vaccination

Proof of vaccination verifies that a person is fully vaccinated. Before entering a business establishment or venue, there are several ways you can show your proof of vaccination (may be printed or electronic):

• your vaccination information displayed on the Check in Qld app. Find out how to add your proof of vaccination status to the Check in Qld app
• written confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination provided to you as part of the vaccination process, such as your record of vaccine card
• a COVID-19 digital certificate or printed vaccination certificate from the Australian Immunisation Register
• an online or printed immunisation history statement for COVID-19 vaccination, including confirmation of a medical contraindication. Your COVID-19 vaccination certificate can be viewed or printed through:
  • Medicare Online via MyGov
  • Express Plus Medicare mobile app
  • My Health Record
• an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate:
  • in a printed or electronic form from the Department of Home Affairs that confirms completion of an Australia Travel Declaration and vaccination against COVID-19 overseas; or
  • through Medicare online account through MyGov or the Medicare mobile app; or
  • an official record of vaccination provided to the person when vaccinated against COVID-19 overseas.

If you are unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccination because of a medical contraindication or participation in a COVID-19 vaccination trial, you must provide evidence. If you present a valid medical contraindication or evidence of participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial you will be treated as if you are fully vaccinated for entry and density requirements.

You do not need to present proof of vaccination (or evidence of a medical contraindication) if any of these apply:

• you are younger than 16 years
• you are exercising law enforcement, intelligence, or national security functions on behalf of a government agency
• to undertake a legislated regulatory or compliance function, where delay in carrying out the function would cause a safety risk
• as part of official union duties in response to an emergent need
• if it would present a risk to your safety.

As of 1am AEST Monday 13 December 2021 Queensland borders will reopen to all interstate travellers, including arrivals from declared hotspots.

While the reopening of borders to domestic travellers has been pushed forward, the Queensland Government has confirmed that the upcoming new public health mandates for hotels, events and venues will still take effect on December 17. Accordingly, all non-essential services are able to continue serving unvaccinated customers and guests until December 17.

Interstate travellers who have NOT been in a hotspot in the last 14 days:

• Will be able to arrive via air or road
• Are not required to quarantine if fully vaccinated
• Are required to quarantine for 14 days if unvaccinated and must arrive via air only

Interstate travellers who HAVE been in a declared hotspot in the past 14 days

May travel to Queensland provided you:

• Are fully vaccinated
• Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival into Queensland
• Agree to get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 5 following your arrival into Queensland.
• You may arrive by air or road.

There is no quarantine required if you meet these criteria.

If you do not meet these criteria, you will need to meet the relevant requirements for entry and will be required to undertake a period of quarantine in a government-nominated facility.

International travellers arriving DIRECT to Queensland from outside Australia:

May travel to Queensland provided you:

• are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• are fully vaccinated
• have a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to departure
• undertake a period of home quarantine subject to conditions set by Queensland Health.

These arrivals will be uncapped.

If you do not meet these criteria, you will need to enter within Queensland’s international air arrivals cap and undertake a period of quarantine in a government-nominated facility.

International travellers travelling to Queensland via another state or territory:

May enter Queensland provided you:

• are fully vaccinated
• have undertaken the Queensland-specified period of quarantine under the direction of another state or territory at home or in a government-nominated facility

If you do not meet these criteria, you will need to meet the relevant requirements for entry to Queensland and will be required to undertake a period of home quarantine.

International travellers arriving from a safe travel country:

Arrangements will continue to be quarantine-free.